Book Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chboksy

 
Rating 5/5

Thank you to Nadine who got me into this book! 
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is about a sixteen-year-old freshman called Charlie, who is a ‘wallflower.’ He’s shy, sensitive and socially awkward, but he very intelligent beyond his years.
 
This book is written as letters, which is addressed to an ‘anonymous friend,’ this starts with “Dear Friend...” and ends with “Always love, Charlie.” You get lured into his world through these letters, like a journey, we acknowledge his feelings and understand his day-to-day thoughts.
 
“We are who we are for a lot of reasons. And maybe we'll never know most of them. But even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose wherever we go from there. We can still do things. And we can try to feel okay about them.”
 
At school, Charlie is known as a ‘freak’ just because he’s a little different; he’s not your average teenaged boy but he accepts it and does not try to fit in. During a football game, Charlie stokes the courage and befriends two seniors who he says are his favourite people in the world. Stepsiblings Patrick and Sam take an easy liking towards Charlie and invite him to parties and their social gatherings and gave him a taste of teenaged life. A teacher called Bill befriends him; who recognizes Charlie’s intelligence and sets him extracurricular work.
 
This book doesn’t have a story plot, but just more of every-day life. Charlie begins to understand what it feels like to be a young adult, despite the burdens of drama and dealing with the recent suicide of his best friend and also his favourite late Aunt Helen. The story follows him from having his first kiss, first crush, making new friends, having his first cigarette, first drink, drug-taking, along with his love literature and music, especially ‘Asleep’ by the Smiths. We slowly see him come out of his ‘wallflower’ shell and we understand why he is unable to participate, due to his pain of the past. Books and music are one of the things that keep him getting on with his life, not to mention his new friends, in which he states that he feels infinite.
 
There were so many quotes by Charlie, which touched me. It was just very heartwarming to read. He’s such an honest innocent and a naïve character, but lovable at the same time. He deals with a number of issues, such as death, falling in love, dating, taking drugs, homosexuality, pregnancy as well as abortion and also mental health etc. which is all combined into one lovely book.
 
Quotes of the book:
 
“And in that moment. I swear we were infinite.”
 
“And I thought about how many people have loved those songs. And how many people got through a lot of bad times because of those songs. And how many people enjoyed good times with those songs. And how much those songs really mean. I think it would be great to have written one of those songs. I bet if I wrote one of them, I would be very proud. I hope the people who wrote those songs are happy. I hope they feel it's enough. I really do because they've made me happy. And I'm only one person.”
 
For me, it’s a 5/5!
I have to say I really enjoyed this book! I think it’s really wonderfully written and I got really into Charlie’s letters. I really love the music references in the story. I think everyone should read it, or at least give it a chance. It’s definitely a book I’d love to read again, just like If I Stay by Gayle Forman. You either love the book or you hate it. There were half negative reviews and half good reviews. I think I’m a wallflower too, haha

Let me know what you think of the book or movie in the comments. 

Love Han x